Trailer steering mechanism



P 1939- A. w. PATTY.

TRAILER STEERING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In venior "7 A iiomeys FiledMarch 18, 1938 iillililll m A. W. PATTY Sept. 26, 1939.

' TRAILER STEERING MECHANISM Filed March 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aiiorneys Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in steeringapparatus for trailers, the principal object being to provide meansinterposed between the lead vehicle and the trailer whereby the traileris automatically steered in accordance with the steered movements of thelead vehicle.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to the reader of the following specification:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view showing thetrailer equipped with the steering mechanism,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the lead vehicle and trailer with theassociated steering means,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the universal mount for thesteering bar,

20 Figure 4 is a side elevational view with parts in section showing theslidable connection between the steering bar and the lead vehicle,

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the ball supporting couplingmount, and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen in the drawings that numeral 5 generally refers to the leadvehicle while numeral 6 generally refers to the trailer. The trailer 6is provided with the forwardly extending V-shaped frame 1 from which thearm 8 extends forwardly and this arm is provided with a socket forreceiving the ball 9 on the lower end of the upwardly curving arm II],the lower end of this arm being provided with the shank l I clamped asat I2 to the rear bumper l3 of the lead vehicle 5.

The upper end of the arm I0 is provided with the ball l4 which isreceived by the socket I5 in the coupling head Hi, this head beinginteriorly threaded to receive the rod I'I;

Numeral I8 represents the elongated steering bar one end of which isbored as at I9 to slidably receive the adjacent end of the rod IT. A capapertured to receive the rod I1 is threadedly disposed over the adjacentend of the bar I8 to provide a grease closure and a lubricant checkfitting 2| is located in the side of the bar I8 and 50 communicatingwith the bore I9 so that the bore I9 and the interior of the cap can becharged with lubricant.

A stud or pin 22 depends from the underside of the trailer 6 and intothe ring 23 which is provided with the outwardly extending trunnion 24disposed through openings of the laterally curved portion 25 of the barI8 and the intermediate curved portion 26 of the plate 21, plate 21being secured by screws 28 to the bar I8. Obviously by removing theplate 27, the bar I9 can be completely removed from the ring 23. Thering 23 is capable of rotating on a horizontal plane on the pin 22,while the bar I8 is capable of swinging on a vertical plane on thetrunnions 24.

Numeral 29 represents the usual axle bar of the trailer 6, the wheels39-49 pivotally connected to the ends thereof being provided with thesteering arms 3! connected by the connecting rod 32. A link rod 33extends from one of the arms 3| to pivotally connect as at 34 to therear end of the steering arm I8.

It can now be seenythat as the lead vehicle 5 is turned in onedirection, the resulting action of the steering bar l8 will exert forceon the steerable wheels of the trailer 6 so as to cause the trailer tosteer itself in response to the steered action of the lead vehicle.

It is thought that the foregoing sets forth the invention in specificterms and it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape,size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A coupling and steering apparatus for trailer and lead vehiclecomprising a forwardly inclined arm, means for mounting the arm on thelead vehicle, a ball on the lower portion of the arm, a tongue extendingforwardly from the trailer and provided with a socket for receiving theball, an elongated bar having one end portion offset upwardly,connecting means between the forward end portion of the bar and theupper end of the arm, and connecting means between the rear end of thebar and the wheels of the trailer to be steered, and a universalmounting between the intermediate portion of the bar and the bottom ofthe trailer.

ADDISON W. PATTY.

